"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."
Does God Answer Prayers? — A Dissection of Alma 31:38
Short Answer: Yes
Alma 31:38 gives us a living pattern, not just a story. When we ask, “Does God answer prayers?” this verse lets us watch the answer unfold in real time.
1. God’s response is practical and sustaining
“The Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst…”
We see that God’s answer is not abstract. He meets real needs.
He sustains us in the very places where our strength runs thin.
When we pray, we are not sending words into the void—we are opening ourselves to divine provision.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October 2013 talk: Like a Broken Vessel
"How do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love?"
This talk is one of the clearest modern witnesses that God sustains us in our hunger, our thirst, and our weakness—not always by removing hardship, but by strengthening and upholding us in it.
Why this talk fits perfectly?
▪︎ Elder Holland teaches that God meets us in
our need, not in our imagined perfection.
▪︎ He testifies that God provides strength,
nourishment, and sustaining grace in the
very moments when we feel depleted.
▪︎ He emphasizes that God’s help is practical,
present, and personal—not abstract or
distant.
▪︎ His message mirrors Alma 31:38’s pattern:
• God provides.
• God strengthens.
• God sustains us through affliction.
Key Themes That Echo This Section
» “Hope is never lost.”
» “We are infinitely more than our afflictions.”
» “The Savior’s grace is sufficient to sustain
us.”
» “Trust in God’s promises of help and healing.”
This talk reinforces the teaching that when we pray, we are not sending words into the void—we are opening ourselves to divine provision.
2. God strengthens us beyond our natural
capacity
“…and he also gave them strength…”
This is not the removal of difficulty; it is the infusion of divine capacity.
We learn that God’s answers often come as strength to endure, courage to continue, and power to act.
Our prayers invite His strength into our weakness.
By Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University on October 23, 2001
"The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity."
Elder Bednar teaches the same truth we see in Alma 31:38:
God gives us strength we cannot produce on our own.
Key idea from the talk:
"The Atonement gives us power to do things we could never do alone."
Elder David A. Bednar
God strengthens us beyond our natural capacity.
Just as Alma’s prayer brought divine strength, Elder Bednar teaches that Christ’s Atonement gives us enabling power—strength to endure, courage to continue, and capacity beyond our own.
3. God transforms affliction through Christ
🗝 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
“…that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”
Except from Alma 31:38
This is one of the most profound lines in scripture.
God does not always take away affliction, but He transforms its weight.
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
🗝 "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
In Christ, sorrow is not erased—it is swallowed up.
Pain does not disappear—it is overcome by joy.
This is an answer only God can give.
"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen."
4. God answers according to faith-filled
prayer
“Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.”
The verse ends by making the answer unmistakable:
God did this because Alma prayed.
And not just prayed—prayed in faith.
Faith is not a guarantee of outcomes; it is a covenantal posture that opens us to God’s will, God’s timing, and God’s power.
Most Poignant Scriptures for This Section
Taking scriptures from the Topical Guide Faith to pair with our cross-reference word faith from this excerpt for this section for further revelation.
Alma 14:26 — “Give us strength according to our faith.”
This is the closest doctrinal parallel to Alma 31:38.
It shows the same pattern:
faith » prayer » divine response » strength.
Mosiah 27:14 — “Prayers … answered according to their faith.”
This verse states this section’s message in almost identical language.
It reinforces the truth that God responds to faith‑filled prayer, not casual wishing.
Matthew 9:29 — “According to your faith be it unto you.”
Jesus Himself teaches the principle Alma is living.
This ties your study directly to the Savior’s own words.
James 1:6 — “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”
This is the New Testament’s clearest statement on how prayer must be offered.
It pairs perfectly with:
“Faith is not a guarantee of outcomes; it is a covenantal posture.”
Ether 12:6 — “No witness until after the trial of your faith.”
This verse explains why God answers according to faith.
It teaches that faith precedes the miracle—just like Alma’s prayer.
3 Nephi 17:8 — “Your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.”
Christ Himself ties His response directly to the people’s faith.
This reinforces the theme:
faith opens the way for divine action.
Articles of Faith 1:4 — “First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is the doctrinal capstone.
It grounds this entire study in the first principle of the gospel:
faith in Christ is the foundation of every divine response.
One‑Sentence Summary for this Section
These scriptures testify that God answers prayer in proportion to our faith—faith that trusts His will, yields to His timing, and opens our lives to His power.
Unified Witness
When we ask, “Does God answer prayers?” Alma 31:38 answers with a resounding yes—but it also teaches us how He answers:
▪︎ He provides what we lack.
▪︎ He strengthens what we cannot sustain.
▪︎ He transforms what would otherwise
break us.
▪︎ He responds to faith that reaches
toward Him.
This verse invites us to trust that our prayers matter, that heaven hears us, and that Christ’s joy is stronger than any affliction we carry.
Final Witness: He Hears Us
We bear witness that God is not distant from our prayers. Alma 31:38 shows us a God who enters our hunger, our weakness, and our afflictions with sustaining, strengthening, and transforming power. We learn that His answers are not always the removal of difficulty but the arrival of divine help—provision when we lack, strength when we falter, and joy when sorrow presses in.
We affirm that God answers according to faith‑filled prayer. Faith does not guarantee outcomes; it is the posture by which we trust His will, yield to His timing, and open our lives to His power. When we pray in faith, we step into covenant relationship with a God who sees us, knows us, and responds to us.
We testify that Christ is the source of every sustaining mercy, every strengthening moment, and every joy that swallows up affliction. Through Him, burdens become light, hearts become steady, and hope becomes living. Through Him, our prayers rise, and heaven bends near.
May we continue to pray with faith, walk with trust, and receive with gratitude the answers God gives—answers shaped by His wisdom, His love, and His desire to lift us into the joy of His Son.
Amen.
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